Development of a soundscape simulator tool

This paper discusses the development of an interactive soundscape simulator, enabling users to manipulate a series of parameters to investigate if there is group correlation between factors such as source selection, positioning and level. The basis of the simulator stems from fieldwork and recordings carried out in London and Manchester. Through the use of an enhanced version of soundwalking, respondents are led on a walk around an urban space focusing on the soundscape, whilst answering questions in a semi-structured interview. The data collected is then used to inform the ecological validity of the simulator. The laboratory based tests use simulations based on spaces recorded in a series of urban locations, as well as an ‘idealised’ soundscape simulation, featuring data from all recorded locations. The sound sources used are based on user highlighted selections from all locations, based on preferences extracted from soundwalk field data. Preliminary results show the simulator is effective in obtaining numerical data based on subjective choices as well as, effective qualitative data which provides an insight into the reasoning behind the respondents choices. This work forms part of the Positive Soundscape Project

Training response inhibition to reduce food consumption: Mechanisms, stimulus specificity and appropriate training protocols.

Published onlineJournal ArticleThis is the final version of the article. Available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.Training individuals to inhibit their responses towards unhealthy foods has been shown to reduce food intake relative to a control group. Here we aimed to further explore these effects by investigating the role of stimulus devaluation, training protocol, and choice of control group. Restrained eaters received either inhibition or control training using a modified version of either the stop-signal or go/no-go task. Following training we measured implicit attitudes towards food (Study 1) and food consumption (Studies 1 and 2). In Study 1 we used a modified stop-signal training task with increased demands on top-down control (using a tracking procedure and feedback to maintain competition between the stop and go processes). With this task, we found no evidence for an effect of training on implicit attitudes or food consumption, with Bayesian inferential analyses revealing substantial evidence for the null hypothesis. In Study 2 we removed the feedback in the stop-signal training to increase the rate of successful inhibition and revealed a significant effect of both stop-signal and go/no-go training on food intake (compared to double-response and go training, respectively) with a greater difference in consumption in the go/no-go task, compared with the stop-signal task. However, results from an additional passive control group suggest that training effects could be partly caused by increased consumption in the go control group whereas evidence for reduced consumption in the inhibition groups was inconclusive. Our findings therefore support evidence that inhibition training tasks with higher rates of inhibition accuracy are more effective, but prompt caution for interpreting the efficacy of laboratory-based inhibition training as an intervention for behaviour change.This project was supported by a PhD studentship from the School of Psychology, Cardiff University (to R. Adams) and a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Grant (BB/K008277/1) to C. Chambers and F. Verbruggen. F Verbruggen is supported by a starting grant from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013)/ERC Grant Agreement No. 312445. R. Adams was principally responsible for all parts of the paper. N. Lawrence, F. Verbruggen and C. Chambers made substantial contributions to all parts of the paper. C. Chambers was senior author and oversaw the project

Food addiction: Implications for the diagnosis and treatment of overeating

This is the final version. Available from MDPI via the DOI in this record. With the obesity epidemic being largely attributed to overeating, much research has been aimed at understanding the psychological causes of overeating and using this knowledge to develop targeted interventions. Here, we review this literature under a model of food addiction and present evidence according to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) criteria for substance use disorders. We review several innovative treatments related to a food addiction model ranging from cognitive intervention tasks to neuromodulation techniques. We conclude that there is evidence to suggest that, for some individuals, food can induce addictive-type behaviours similar to those seen with other addictive substances. However, with several DSM-5 criteria having limited application to overeating, the term ‘food addiction’ is likely to apply only in a minority of cases. Nevertheless, research investigating the underlying psychological causes of overeating within the context of food addiction has led to some novel and potentially effective interventions. Understanding the similarities and differences between the addictive characteristics of food and illicit substances should prove fruitful in further developing these interventions.Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research CouncilEuropean Research Counci

Prefrontal brain stimulation during food-related inhibition training: effects on food craving, food consumption and inhibitory control

This is the final version. Available on open access from the Royal Society via the DOI in this recordData accessibility: The pre-registered study protocol, anonymised study data and JASP outputs are available on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/2597q/).Modulation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activity using non-invasive brain stimulation has been shown to reduce food craving as well as food consumption. Using a preregistered design, we examined whether bilateral transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the DLPFC could reduce food craving and consumption in healthy participants when administered alongside the cognitive target of inhibitory control training. Participants (N = 172) received either active or sham tDCS (2 mA; anode F4, cathode F3) while completing a food-related Go/No-Go task. State food craving, ad-lib food consumption and response inhibition were evaluated. Compared with sham stimulation, we found no evidence for an effect of active tDCS on any of these outcome measures in a predominantly female sample. Our findings raise doubts about the effectiveness of single-session tDCS on food craving and consumption. Consideration of individual differences, improvements in tDCS protocols and multi-session testing are discussed.Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)European Research CouncilWellcome Trus

New evidence for zero-temperature relaxation in a spin-polarized Fermi liquid

Spin-echo experiments are reported for 3He-4He solutions under extremely high B/T conditions, B=14.75  T and T≥1.73  mK. The 3He concentration x3 was adjusted close to the value xc≈3.8% at which the spin-rotation parameter μM0 vanishes. In this way the transverse and longitudinal spin-diffusion coefficients D⊥,D∥ were measured while keeping |μM0|\u3c1. It is found that the temperature dependence of D⊥ deviates strongly from 1/T2, with anisotropy temperature Ta=4.26-0.44+0.18  mK. This value is close to the theoretical prediction for dilute solutions and suggests that spin current relaxation remains finite as the temperature tends to zero

The positive soundscape project : a synthesis of results from many disciplines

This paper takes an overall view of ongoing findings from the Positive Soundscape Project, a large inter-disciplinary soundscapes study which is nearing completion. Qualitative fieldwork (soundwalks and focus groups) and lab-based listening tests have revealed that two key dimensions of the emotional response are calmness and vibrancy. In the lab these factors explain nearly 80% of the variance in listener response. Physiological validation is being sought using fMRI measurements, and these have so far shown significant differences in the response of the brain to affective and neutral soundscapes. A conceptual framework which links the key soundscape components and which could be used for future design is outlined. Metrics are suggested for some perceptual scales and possibilities for soundscape synthesis for design and user engagement are discussed, as are the applications of the results to future research and environmental noise policy

Do restrained eaters show increased BMI, food craving and disinhibited eating? A comparison of the Restraint Scale and the Restrained Eating scale of the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire

This is the final version. Available on open access from the Royal Society via the DOI in this recordData accessibility: All study data and analysis scripts are freely available on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/gsfrj/).Despite being used interchangeably, different measures of restrained eating have been associated with different dietary behaviours. These differences have impeded replicability across the restraint literature and have made it difficult for researchers to interpret results and use the most appropriate measure for their research. Across a total sample of 1731 participants, this study compared the Restraint Scale (RS), and its subscales, to the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ) across several traits related to overeating. The aim was to explore potential differences between these two questionnaires so that we could help to identify the most suitable measure as a prescreening tool for eating-related interventions. Results revealed that although the two measures are highly correlated with one another (rs = 0.73-0.79), the RS was more strongly associated with external (rs = -0.07 to 0.11 versus -0.18 to -0.01) and disinhibited eating (rs = 0.46 versus 0.31), food craving (rs = 0.12-0.27 versus 0.02-0.13 and 0.22 versus -0.06) and body mass index (rs = 0.25-0.34 versus -0.13 to 0.15). The results suggest that, compared to the DEBQ, the RS is a more appropriate measure for identifying individuals who struggle the most to control their food intake.Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)European Research Council (ERC

Rectal cancer management during the COVID-19 pandemic (ReCaP): multicentre prospective observational study.

Concerns over unacceptable high mortality in patients with rectal cancer undergoing surgery or systemic therapy who contract COVID-19 have led to widespread adoption of alternative treatment strategies.The ReCaP study aimed to study these variations and associated outcomes